The Many Unusual Uses of Coca-Cola (Besides Drinking It)

There aren’t many things more refreshing than a cold Coke on a hot Costa Rican day. But the famous drink, which dates all the way back to 1886, has so many more uses than that.

From getting rid of rust to keeping grass lush and green, a little bit of Coca-Cola can go a long way. Plus, it makes a mean BBQ sauce. And even though Coke can clean your toilet or polish the chrome of your car’s bumper, it’s still safe to drink.

The carbonic acid which makes Coca-Cola so good at cleaning is still way less acidic than your stomach acids or even a lemon, according to LIVESTRONG, meaning Coke won’t have the same effect on your stomach lining as it has on a dirty coin or toilet bowl.

1. 1. Coca-Cola to clean coins. If your coins look dull and you want to spruce them up, drop your money into a glass of Coke. Wait for a full day or overnight before pulling your coins out. Wipe with a rag and buff the coins — most of the grime will have come away.
   2. Coca-Cola for the toilet. Diet Coke is better than most chemical cleaners. Pour it around the rim and let it flow into the bowl. Let it sit for about an hour and then scrub off any stubborn stains with a toilet brush. Flush once you’re done.
   3. Coca-Cola to polish chrome. Whether it’s for your car’s bumper or another chrome surface, aluminum foil dipped in Coca-Cola will remove rust much better than any traditional polisher.
   4. Coca-Cola temove blood stains. While the rumor that police use soda to get blood stains off highways is a myth, Coca-Cola is really effective at busting through blood stains — the show “MythBusters” even confirmed that this was possible.
   5. Coca-Cola to clean burned pots. You can “unstick” burnt pots and pans by pouring in some Coke and bringing it to a boil. Take the pan off the heat and carefully use a scrubbing brush to stir the soda — the food should come right off.
   6. Coca-Cola to get rid of rust. If you have any rust stains or tools covered in rust, Coca-Cola will eat away at the rust for you. Leave the rusty object submerged in Coke for an hour or overnight and then scrub off the rust.
   7. Coca-Cola to relieve nausea. Drinking flat Coca-Cola will help relieve a queasy stomach. Avoid regular carbonated Coke since that could agitate your stomach and make it feel worse.
   8. Coca-Cola to get gum out of hair. If you or someone else has gum stuck in your hair, pouring a little Coke over the gum will help it slide right out.
   9. Coca-Cola as a lawn tonic. Combine a can of regular (read: not diet) Coke with a can of beer, dishwashing soap, household ammonia, and a cup of mouthwash and put it in a 10-gallon hose-end sprayer to dilute the mixture. Spraying this on your lawn a few times a week will keep it green and thick.
   10. Coca-Cola to keep bugs away outdoors. If you’re having a picnic or have food that bugs keep coming over to inspect, fill a bowl with Coca-Cola and place it far away from you. The sugar will draw the bugs to the bowl and away form you and your food.
   11. Coca-Cola to eliminate oil stains. Coke will help get rid of any oil stains on your driveway or in the garage. Pour Coke over the stains, scrub with a brush, and then rinse with water.
   12. Coca-Cola as a pool cleaner. A few sites say that if you pour two two-liter bottles of Coca-Cola into your pool, you’ll notice a significant change in your pool’s appearance for the better once the pool has cleaned out the soda. No more iron or rust stains!
   13. Coca-Cola to make barbecue sauce. Combine Coca-Cola with ketchup, Worcestershire sauce, and a few other seasonings of your choice. Simmer the mixture, and it will turn into the delicious BBQ sauce of your dreams. See a popular recipe here.
   14. Coca-Cola to remove paint from metal furniture. You can remove paint from metal furniture by soaking a bath towel in Coca-Cola and covering it for a week, continuing to saturate the towel with Coke every day so it stays wet. After a week, the paint should strip off very easily.
   15. Coca-Cola to loosen rusted bolts. If you happen upon a rusted bolt that you can’t undo, soak a hand towel in Coke and apply it to the area for a few minutes. Continue soaking the bolt until most of the rust has been removed and comes off on the towel. After the bolt is removed, rinse the area with water to avoid stickiness.

For more, check out 51 Uses for Coca-Cola – the Ultimate List